Skirt-supporter and waist-holder.



J. SPRAGUE. SKIRT SUPPORTER AND WAIST HOLDER.

APPLIOATION FILED JUNB1,.1908.

Patented 'June 8, 1909.

THE NORRIS PETERS co. WASHINGTON. 04 c.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES SPRAGUE, OF AURORA, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO OHINNEY A. MINARD,

OF AURORA, ILLINOIS.

SKIRT-SUPPORTER AND WAIST-HOLDER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 8, 1909.

Application filed June 1, 1908. Serial No. 436,008.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMES SPRAGUE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Aurora,

in the county of Kane and State of Illinois,

have invented certain new and useful Im- 1pirovements in Skirt-Supporters and Waistolders and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to im rovements in skirt su porters and waist ho ders.

The 0 j ect of the invention is to provide a simple and inexpensive supporter of this character having means on its upper edge for the engagement with the band of a skirt, and means on its lower edge for engagement with a shirtwaist band. The arrangement of these skirt and shirtwaist-engaging devices is such that they will not enter and tear the material from which the skirt or waist is formed.

A further object is to provide a flexible device of this character having means whereby the same may be secured to an attaching belt without the necessity of sewing or providing additional fastening means, and whereby the belt practically serves as a part of the supporter.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists of certain novel features of construction, combination and arrangement of parts as will be described and particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawing, Figure 1 is a perspective view of the invention; Fig. 2 is an outer side view of the same applied to its attaching belt; Fig. 3 is a horizontal sectional view of the same; Fig. 4 is a cross sectional view taken on a line through one of the skirt supporting devices; and Fig. 5 is a similar view showing the manner in which the supporter is engaged with a shirtwaist and skirt to hold and support the same.

The su porter consists of a plate, 1, formed of thin iiexible metal and having adjacent to its inner ends vertically disposed slots, 2. On the upper edge of the plate 1 adjacent to its opposlte ends are formed skirt supporting members, 3. The members 3 consist of lugs which are bent downwardly adjacent to the outer side of the plate and thence upwardly and outwardly to form hooks, the upper edges of which are provided with a series of points or ron s, 4, ada ted to be en a ed with the b and f the skirt g g On the lower edge of the plate, 1, is formed a series of downwardly projecting points or prongs, 5, which are adapted to be engaged with the shirtwaist band whereby the waist is held down in proper position.

In connection with the supporter I provide an attachin belt, 6, which may be formed of any suitable material, but which is preferably formed of webbing, said belt havlng on one end a buckle, 7, to receive the opposite end of the belt when arranged in position for use, thus providing for the proper adjustment of the belt to the waist of the wearer. The belt, 6, is applied to the holder by inserting the same through the slots, 2, in the opposite ends of the plate, 1, so that a portion of the belt extends across the outer face of the plate and forms a firm support for the same and serves practically as a part of the supporter when in use. The engagement of the plate with the belt as herein shown and described obviates the necessity of sewing the parts together or providin other fastening means, and ermlts the p ate to beadjusted on the belt in the proper position for use.

By forming the skirt-engaging hooks adjacent to the upper edge of the plate, 1, said hooks will be in position for engaging the band of the skirt near its upper edge so that the liability of said hooks being caught in the material of the skirt below the band is prevented, thus obviating the danger of tearing the skirt. The arrangement of the waistholding rongs, 5, on the lower edge of the plate wi1l also cause these points or prongs to be engaged with the band of the waist and not with the material forming the latter, either above or below the waistband, and will thus prevent the material of the shirtwaist from being torn. V

By forming the skirt-engaging hooks adj acent to the upper edge of the plate, 1, said hooks will be in position for engaging the band of the skirt near its upper edge, and if the wearer so desires to elevate the skirt in the back, said hooks will be in position for engagin the band of the skirt near its lower edge. onsequently, either position can be obtained without the liability of said hooks being caught in the material of the skirt below the band, thus obviating all danger of tearing the skirt.

By forming the waist-holding prongs, 5, immediately below or in direct line with the plate, and by forming the skirt-holding prongs, 3, at the upper edge of the plate, the upper edge of the plate, as shown in Fig. 5, has a tendency to slightly tilt, thereby prc venting a direct downward strain on the waist band, and, consequently, reducing the liability of or entirely preventing the prongs from tearing the waist band,

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, the construction and operation of the invention will be readily understood without requiring a more extended explanation.

Various changes in the form, proportion and the minor details of constructlon may be resorted to without departing from the principle or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Let ters-Patent, is:

1. A skirt supporter and shirtwaist holder comprising a plate having formed therein adj acent to its opposite ends transversely disposed slots, an attaching belt slidably engaged with said slots, skirt supporting hooks formed on the upper edge of the plate, skirt band engaging prongs on the outer edges of said hooks, and a series of waistband engaging prongs formed on the lower edge 01" the plate and projecting downwardly in line therewith, substantially as described.

2. A skirt supporter and waist holder comprising a plate having formed therein adjacent its opposite ends vertically disposed slots, an attaching belt slid ably engaged with said slots and extending across the plate, a buckle 011 one end of said belt, skirt support ing hooks formed on the upper edge of the plate adjacent to its opposite ends, said hooks consisting of lugs which are bent downwardly and then upwardly on the outer side of the plate, a series of skirt band engaging prongs on the ends of said hooks, and a series of waist band engaging prongs formed on the lower edge of the plate and p rejecting downwardly in direct line therewith, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JAMES SPRAGUE.

Witnesses GEORGE W. ALsonULEn, JOHN AOKELAND. 

